Apparatus for lubricating engine-trucks and driving-journals.



o. 806,180. PATENTED 1330.5, 1905. J. FRIDGEN.

APPARATUSFOR'LUBRIGATING ENGINE TRUCKS AND DRIVING JOURNALS.

. AIPPLIOATION FILED JAN. 3. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. J fzzvezztar flia'tjaepjagg 3 Hz'dyew.

.7 i I I eflttarzzqy,

the driving-box.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

JOHN FRIDGEN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGN OR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES B. ROYAL, OF RIVER FOREST,

ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATINGENGINEJRUCKS AND DRIVING-JOURNALS.

To all whom it may concern.-

of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Lubricating Engine- Trucks and Driving-Journals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to an apparatus utility which will be fully described and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichlike referencenumerals'refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a driving wheel, journal, and driving-box equipped with my improved lubricator. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the cellar, showing the different apartments and connections. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line m, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. of the bottom plate, which retains the cellar in Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the set-screws and coil-springs on the bottom plate. Fig. 6 is a slight modification of Fig. 1, showing the force-feed operating from the bottom of the cellar-block. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the feed-cylinder and cellar of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line y y, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the bottom plate used with the bottom-feed modification. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the cellar, showing the bushing and feedport.

Referring more to details of the parts, 1 is Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 3,1905 Serial No. 239,342.

Extending Fig. 4; is a detail view Patented Dec. 5, 1905.

I the driving-wheel of a locomotive, which is Be it known that I, JOHN FRIDGEN, a citizenmounted on the driving-axle 2.

3 is the driving-box carrying the engine, and 1 is the driving-box brass forming the top journal-bearing, which may be secured in any suitable manner in the driving-box. Fitting within the lower portion. of the driving-box is thelubricant-cellar block 5, the upper face of which is provided with a semicircular into a second smaller cylinder 9, said cylinder -9 in turn opening into the lubricant-cellar 10,

which occupies about one-half of the block 5. longitudinally for nearly the length of the block and connecting the cellar and the contact-bed 11 of the bearing is the port 12.

The inner surface of cylinder 7 is threaded for a short distance from its outer end to receive the threaded cap 13, which closes the mouth ofthe cylinder. Projecting through a perforation in the center of and having a threaded connection with cap 13vis a plug 14, provided with the spring-pocket 15. Projecting through pocket 15 and through a perforation in the head 16 of said plugis the rod 17 of a piston 18, said piston fitting snugly within cylinder 7 Surrounding rod 17 is an expansion-spring 19, which fits partly within pocket 15, with its outer end seated against the cap 16 and its inner endbearing against piston 18. The outer surface of plug 14 is threaded throughout itslength and is provided with a jam-nut 20 for retaining cap. 13 in its position in the cylinder.

21 is a bottom plate adapted to be secured by means of studs, which pass through the corner-flanges 22, to the bottom of the driving-box, said plate-=when in place retaining the cellar-block in its position in the driving-box.

pockets 23 are preferable in the upper ends of a pair of set-screws 25, which project through plate 21. When so constructed, the upward pressure against the block may be regulated as desired by the turning of said screws.

26 is a set-screw projecting upwardly from the inner end of the plate to act as a keeper for retaining the block in the box.

In the Operation of my device the drivingbox is placed on the journal, with the driving-brass, which has been previously secured in the box, resting on the journal. The cellarblock carrying the lower bushing is then adjusted in the box and secured in place by means of the bottom plate 21, as described, the set-screw in the end of the plate preventing the escape of the block from the box. When the block has been properly adjusted and secured in the driving-box, the cylindercap, with the piston, is removed and the cellar filled with grease or hard oil by feeding same into the first cylinder and forcing it therethrough into the smaller cylinder and,

thence into the cellar proper. When the cellar and cylinder have been filled, the piston is placed in the outer cylinder, the cylindercap secured in place, and the threaded plug 14 threaded into said cap with the spring in its pocket, with the plug and the piston-rod projecting through the head 16. The jam-nut on the plug is tightened for the purpose specified. As thecylinder is full of grease or hard oil it will be possible for the piston to project only a short distance thereinto. Consequently the plug projects almost its entire length without the cylinder, with the pistonrod projecting through the cap of the plug. As the axle turns the grease or hard-oil lubricant is fed through the port into the contactlar at any time by the distance the plug and rod project beyond the cylinder. In this way the inspector can instantly tell when the cellar needs filling, and the liability of a dry cellar and resultant hot box is reduced to a minimum. By having the pin seated in the pocket in the threaded plug the tension of the spring may be quickly and easily regulated.

By referring to Fig. 3 the advantage of a lubricator in case of a hot-box is apparent. It will be noticed that the cellar-block on the side opposite the cylinder is but a shell, the lubricant-cellar extending upwardly and conforming to the curve of the axle-bushing. In

case the journal should become heated the heat is quickly conducted through the bushing to the lubricant, which becoming heated expands and forces a quicker feed of grease or oil through the port to the contact-bed, the oil also tending to cool the bearing. As the cellar extends upwardly to a higher point than the contact-bed, the lubricant would tend to flow if melted into said bed. There could, however, be no waste of the lubricant in case of the hot-box melting the lubricant, as the only means of its escape is through the port into the contact-bed of the axle. Should it be necessary to replace one of the bushings, it is a simple matter to remove the cellarblock, renew the bushing, and replace the block in the box. In recharging the cellar it is only necessary to remove the cylinder-cap and piston and repeat the filling operation, which has been described.

In Fig. 6 I show a driving-axle carrying an eccentric. With such a construction I employ the slight modification of my cellar-block, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. With the eccentric on the axle, as shown, the plug and rod projecting from the side would interfere with its action, so I provide acellar-block substantially similar to the one described, with the exception that at one end of the main cylinder I provide a drop-cylinder, with which the piston and its parts are connected and which they operate in the same manner as formerly described, with the exception that their action is vertical instead of horizontal. With this block I provide a circular opening 27 near the center of the horizontal cylinder, through which the lubricant is fed into the cellar. The bottom plate 21 is substantially similar to the bottom plate 21, the exception being the lip 28, which fits within the socket 29 in the block and replaces the set-screw 26 and the addition to plate 21 of a pocket 30, adapted to fit over the depending cylinder.

A lubricator constructed according to my invention will when properly handled run for sixty thousand miles and when emptied can be easily refilled without removing the cellarblock from the driving-box. As the feed port is usually made one inch wide, it is impossible to clog same, and a sufficient quantity of lubricant is always in the contact-bed to lubricate both the axle and the hub of the wheel. The cellars are dust-proof, and a suitable bushing is provided for the axle throughout the length of the block, so that in case of a broken'tire the wheel may be carried by the block up off the rail and be lubricated, so as to run cool, while it is ordinarily necessary with other lubricating means when such an accident occurs for the cellar-block to be removed and a wooden block inserted to carry the journal.

While I have specifically described the various parts of my device, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details of structure therein described and shown,

inasmuch as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having; thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and'desire' to secure by Letters Patent, is v v 1. In a device of the class described, 'in combination with a suitable driving-box,a lubricant-cellar block mounted in said box comprising a suitable cellar having a feed-opening to the axle, a compression-cylinder adjacent to said cellar and a smaller cylinder connected with said compression-cylinder and opening into said cellar, a piston in said compression-- cylinder, and'means for maintaining a yielding lnward pressure on said piston.

2. In a device of the class descrlbed, 1n combination with a suitable driving-box, a lubricant-cellar block mounted in said "box, com prising a suitable cellar having a feed-opening to the axle and a compression-cylinder adjacent to and connected with said cellar, a-pis'ton in said cellar having a rod projectingthrough the head of said cylinder, and a co1l spring surrounding said rod, and maintaining an in-' ward pressure on said piston for the purpose I presence of two witnesses.

able head in said cylinder, a hollow plug, having a central spring-pocket threaded into said head, a piston in said cylinder, 'a' rod on said piston projecting through said spring-pocket and through a perforation in the head of said plug, and a'coil-spring surrounding said rod zwith one end within and seated against the base of said pocket, and its other end bearing against said piston substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A; In a device of the class described, the comj bination with an open-bottom driving-box, of

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a journal-box and a cellar-block carried therein, of a bottom plate, having 'a plate secured to the bottom of said box, means on said plate for yieldingly'supporting a cellar-block within the box, and a suitable I cellar-block. supported by said means.

threaded perforations therein, adapted to be- 3 secured to the bottom of said journal box, threaded studs, having nests in-their upper vends, projecting through said perforations,

and coil-springs seated in saidnests and supporting'said cellar-block substantially as set forth.v 'v, a In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in I JOHN FRIDGEN,

Y Witnesses: A. E; BRAN F. E. BURROUGHS. 

